Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

Bella was glad to know that Nat would live. She sat down at the edge of his bed in the room they were staying in.

"Gerard," she said quietly, looking up at him.

"Yes?" he questioned, turning to face her. Bella held up a finger, swooping her hand across the room quickly. Gerard gave her a quizzical look.

"Sorry, I had to sound proof it. Anyway," Bella took a deep breath. "Saylr worries me."

"How so?"

"All the mages here worry me, to be more specific. You can't here their thoughts, and I don't think you noticed all their glances. They want me to take the test, to become an official mage."

"No," Gerard said sternly.

"Well, I was thinking...what's so important about this test?"

"It..." Gerard took a deep breath. "It gives you more power. You also get the label of 'Mage', which is apparently a very big deal."

"It can't be that bad..." Bella muttered.

"It is. It's absolutely horrible."

"I could do it. I could do it, and I could pass it."

"You could, but you could also die."

"I think I want to."

Gerard-

"Bella, it's not for me to decide." Gerard said, casting Nat's unconscious form a meaningful glance. "But, if it were up to me, i would say no. You have no idea what they did to Nat, and you never will know the extent of it. They almost KILLED him, Bella. And he was powerful at the time, even then. He's gotten a little better over the past two years, but he has also learned to hide away most of hhis emotions and feelings. He wont complain, he wont brag...but he will never be the same Nathaniel he was before the test."

With that, he went over to one of the three beds and lay down, his back to Bella and his brother. Finally, sleep claimed him. He woke only once more that night and peeked to see Bella fast asleep on the foot of Nat's bed. He rolled ove again and fell back asleep.


Nathaniel-

Nathaniel woke slowly, conscious of a dull throbbing in his head. He had no idea where he was or how he had come to be there. No memories would rouse themselves, so he forced his eyes open.

Nathaniel lay face up on a bed, staring up at a plain white ceiling. His robes were torn, some spots covered with blood. He sat up an gazed around. A single window adorned the far wall, a crescent moon hanging from the black sky. The silver moonlighht illuminated the forms of two other sleeping figures; one quite close. Both looked oddly familiar but Nathaniel could not place how he knew them or where he knew them from.

Silently, he drew the silver dagger from his belt. Without bothering to look, he pointed a finger at the larger of the two figures, the one on the other bed, and spoke silent words that would hold the person alseep for as long as Nathaniel wished. Then, with amazing agility, he pounced on the person at the foot of his bed, placing his dagger to their throat and an immobile spell on them, just of good measure.

The person's eyes flared open wide with surprise. She blinked once. "Nat!" she gasped.

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "Who is Nat? I am Nathaniel."

"What...?" the girl was clearly confused now. Then her face grew pale with horror. "You...you dont...remember...do you?"

"Remember what? You're trying to trick me. It wont work."

"Nathaniel...It's me, Bella."

Nathaniel blinked. "Bella... i know that name..."

"Yes, Nat, I'm Bella."

"Bella..." The madness suddenly vanished. Nat blinked again then closed his eyes and sighed. His body relaxed and the dagger fell from his limp grip.

"Yes...i know that name."

Nat got up and, never opening his eyes, walked over to a chair close by. He didnt need to see to know where anything was... like his senses were amplified dramatically. He didnt wonder about this, didnt want to. He sunk down in the chair and put his head in his hands.

"Nat?" Bella asked hesitantly. "You...you know me...right?"

"Yes," his voice was weak and filled with unimaginable sorrow. He waved his hand and the spells on both of them vanished.


*Buhahahaha, Nat lost part of his mind. The madness comes and goes, and the rest will be explained later on. He still remembers just about everything, though. It's kinda like Ara's drive...*

"Are you okay?" Bella asked quietly, kneeling beside Nat.

"Yes...I believe so. What happened?" Bella explained what she could of it, but left out a little bit. "Well, I'm glad you saved me."

"Gerard did a lot too. The mages did the most."

"I'm sure."

"Nat..."

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me about the test? THe one to become a Mage."

"Why?" Nat looked horrified.

"Well...I was thinking about taking it..."

"NO!" Nat was furious that Bella would even consider this option.

"Nat, it's not for you to decide! If I want to take it I will! Can't you atleast tell me about it though, to give me an idea of what to expect. Than I can make an educated type of quess as to whether or not I want to take it." Bella waited patiently for Nat to make up his mind...


***I'm grounded, so I won't be on for while.***

Nathaniel-

Nat shook his head. "Bella, if you, for some reason completely unknown to me, decide to take the test then i will have absolutly nothing to do with it. I will also do everything in my power, EVERYTHING, to stop you. I wont let you go through what i did."


*I dont have much*

Okay bella's grounded until Monday, I don't know what to do with my character since she's all alone with Damian and kidnapped, I'd just have her rescue herself but then we'd lose the whole Damian turning Gerard thing....So Ariel, just do something to get them to where Alise is and then we'll go from there okay?

Sounds good. Ok, since Bella's gonna be grounded, I'll go ahead ad post again.


Nathaniel-

Nathaniel regarded Bella sternly as he let his words sink in. Suddenly Gerard sat bolt upright in his bed, gasping.

"Bad dream, brother?" Nathaniel asked, amusement behind his words. Gerard's head whipped around towards him.

"Nat?"

"No, it's the boogey man."

Gerard shuddered but a faint smile spread acrodd his face. "Glad to see you're doing well."

"Me too," Nat agreed solomly.

A moment of silence spread over the room. Gerard finally broke it: "Hey, Nat?"

"Hmm?"

"After...after Damien...cursed you, i guess, he took Alise away."

"I know. I saw."

"Can...can we find her, please?"

"What, do you think we're going to leave her to die?" Nat snorted. "Of course we'll find her. Give me a second, and i'll find out where she is, or the general area. I doubt Damian will let me close enough to see her."

"What do you mean?" Gerard asked.

"There will probably be spells blocking my mind-sight so i cant see exactly where she is. But i should be able to get close enough to get the general area."

Nat closed his eyes for a few moments. Gerard waited anxiously. Finally Nat opened his eyes and sighed wearily. "She's in the Wayward Forest in a cave. As i predicted, i couldnt see her. Thats as far as i got."

Gerard moaned. "When can we leave?"

"Immediatly, if you wish."

"Will the mages let us?" Bella asked.

"They cant stop me." Nat said, shrugging. "Come on, lets go."

***I"m back! I'm not sure what I'm going to go on quite yet...but this is totally random-ish...maybe...i don't know anymore...***

"Nat," Bella said, taking a deep breath.

"Yes, my love?" he turned, taking her hands in his gently. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind.

"I want to take the test," she said simply, refusing to meet his eyes. "I'm going to take the test," she said, more willpower in her voice this time. She waited for him to speak.

I'm gonna switch to first person. I just discovered the fun of it. ^^

and YAY! Bella's back! Woot woot!

Nathaniel-

Anger welled up inside of me; anger towards the mages, at the test, and the tower, at myself, and though i hated to admit it, anger towards Bella. Why couldn't she just be happy with who she was as she is now?

"You're just afraid!" a voice in my head nagged. "Afraid she'll change in the test and grow more powerful! Afraid you won't love her anymore!"

"Not true!" I hissed back. "No matter what, i'll never stop loving her. And besides, Gerard doesn't know what he's talking about! Taking the test doesn't give you more power! I grew stronger after my own test because i studied! Proabably something his mind can't comprehend..."

"Nat?" Bella's voice brought me back to the real world. Apparently i had been lost in my thoughts longer than i had thought.

"Bella," i began and sighed. "Let's not talk about this now. We have to save Alise and plus, I just recovered from being on the verge of death. We'll discuss this another time."

Bella looked away. "Yeah...ok. I suppose you're right."

I drew her into my arms and kissed the top of her head softly. "Don't be like that. I promise, if you really have your mind set on taking the test..." i exhaled deeply, dreading what i had to say now. "If you really have your mind set on it, then i suppose i shouldn't be the one to stop you. But you've got to understand; the test is DANGEROUS, Bella. I nearly died. And whatever Gerard told you wasn't true. You don't gain power from taking the test. It's practically only a death trap for inexperienced mages. I'm not calling you inexperienced," i put in hastily, feeling her tense angrily. "Just..." i sighed.

"It's alright, Nat." She said softly. "I get what you're saying."

I laughed softly. "Well, i'm glad one of us does."

"Can we go now? This place creeps me out, especially since the mages can get into our heads." Gerard complained.

I chuckled. "Gerard, there's no need to worry. Now that I'm fully conscious the mages wouldn't dare rummage through your thoughts. There is no need for panic." I took a step towards the door and waved my hand in the air, catching my staff as it appeared.

"And yes, we can go."

Alise sat down in a corner, covering her head with the rock colored cloak hoping to hide herself from Damian.

She head him cuckle and he kneeled next to her, "hiding is no use love, I will always find you."

He pulled the hood back and she glared at him, "better than not trying."

He roughly pulled her to her feet. "You know I'll never leave you alone, and when they come-"

"I won't let them come."

"They will come. and when they do, I will kill Gerard."

"No!" she lunged at him, knocking him to the ground. When she managed to sedate him a little bit she took off running, using her abnormal vampire speed to put some distance between them.

She ran head first into Gerard, "Alise?" he asked, his voice on the knifes edge of relieved and worried.

"Gerard?" she asked and when she nodded she buried her face in his chest and holding on tight.

Gerard-

We had only exited the tower and walked out of the gates and through the woods when Alise ran into me. I stumbled back.

"Alise?" I asked in disbelief, half worried and half relieved.

"Gerard?"

I could only nod as she buried her face in my chest. I patted her gently on the back.

"Are you hurt?" i asked her, gripping her shoulders and bringing her to arms length.

"No...i don't think so..."

"Good." i said. I glanced over at Nat and Bella. "Can you two get us out of here...and far away?"

Nat shrugged and glanced around. "How far is far away?"

"Somewhere Damian won't find us." i said.

"Hmm..." Nat thought for a moment. He turned to Bella.

"Where do you think the best place would be?"

"As crazy as it sounds...i think back in Verlmil. He won't expect us to go there, so he won't check there. Unless he knows we wont expect him to go there and so he WILL go there to catch us off guard. But if he knows that we know that he'll be there then we WON'T go there... which is what he would expect...? Right?"

"You're going in circles, love." Nat said, smiling. "But i agree with you, Verlmil sounds the best."

"Right, let's go." I said.


*Now i've got a headache.*

"tisk tisk tisk," a voice said from the dark, "you should have remmebered Alise that I can run just as fast as you." He looked at Nat and Bella, "and twice as powerful as you!" with the simple flick of a wrist he sent Nat and bella flying backwards to land on the ground unconcious.

Alise threw herself at him again, but he simply pulled her closer stopping her from fighting, "you will watch as he dies." he rumbled.

Gerard-

I stepped back a pace and watched the fire in the vampire's eye grow. I knew i was in for it now.

One quick glance at my brother and Bella told me that they weren't going to be able to help. They lay, some feet apart, on the grass. Both were unconscious.

Anger boiled up inside of me. I would kill that man-vampire-whatever he was! Even if it cost me more than i was willing to give. Anything for Alise's safety, and that of my brothers. Nothing else mattered anymore.

I slowly drew my sword, never taking my eyes off of Damian and Alise. He laughed.

"You think that puny stick is going to hurt me?" he taunted.

I said nothing. I saw him as he looked into my eyes. I knew exactly what he saw. I watched him shudder.

He saw Death.

I began to walk towards him. I stopped when we were only ten feet apart.

"Let her go, Damian."

"No!"

I shrugged and began to walk forward again. When we were only eight feet apart, i raised my sword.

Six feet.

Four feet...

Two feet...

A sword flashed in new light...

Damian lunged...

A searing, unbearable pain...

Then it was over. I knew he was dead. I felt the wet stickiness of blood splatter over my face as i fell. No longer had i the energy to hold myself up. I was so tired. So tired...

"Gerard!" Alice shreiked, shoving herself away from DAmian's limp body and over to his. "Gerard," she whispered, running her palmst acrossed his face. Then she closed her eyes, letting a single tear drip down her cheek.

"Gerard, I'm so sorry for this, but I'm not ready to lose you. I only pray you can forgive me for this."

She cut her wrist with her teeth and held it up to his mouth, he was still concious enough to swallow, he swallowed several times before his skin started burning, he was changing. He drank enough to make her head spin. When she was sure that he would live she pulled her hand back and wrapped her wrist with the hem of her skirt.

But still her head span, eventually so bad that she collapsed, her head landing on Gerard's shoulder, where she fell asleep.

Nathaniel-

I opened my eyes slowly, blinking in the bright light of the midday sun beating down on my face. My vision was blurry but i was able to make out a few indistinct shapes. Another person, Bella probably, lay a few feet away. The shapes behind her were dark and hard to distinguish. Trees, most likely.

I blinked a few more times to clear my vision and sat up shakily.

"What happened?" i muttered, looking around. Trees...trees...more trees...grass... My breath caught in my throat.

The limp and mangled body of Damian, or at least i THOUGHT it was Damian, lay in the grass a small distance away. The area around his body was stained red.

And close to the body lay two other figures. Alise lay next to Gerard, her head resting on his shoulder. At first, i thought nothing was wrong... then i saw Gerard's wounds.

A huge chunk of his side had been torn away and by the looks of the marks, nails helped by inhuman strength had done the job. I shuddered involuntarily and crawled closer.

"Please don't let him be dead." i prayed to whatever superior being might be watching over us. "Please. Please."

Gerard's breathing was steady, even if he WAS unusually pale. But that was to be expected, i suppose. I examined Alise and found no wounds on her, to my vast relief.

"What happened?" i wondered aloud again. No one answered so i went back over to Bella and sat next to her until someone could answer my question. If curiosity...or boredom... didn't get to me first.

I hated waiting. Luckily I didn't have to wait long. My brother began to stir after about five minutes.

Gerard-

I lay still and quiet, listening to my breath enter and leave my body.

"Funny," I thought. "I wouldn't have thought you had to breathe in the afterlife."

I tried to hold my breath, and it worked. It felt a little odd; human habits die hard, i suppose, but i was able to go without breathing.

I felt a slight pressure against my left shoulder. It wasn't annoying in the slightest, just a conscious feeling. Suddenly, a small prick of pain blossomed in my side.

"Funny," i thought. "I didn't think there was pain in the afterlife."

I focused my thoughts on the small point of pain, and gradually it began to lessen until it wasn't there anymore.

I opened my eyes. A blue sky and a flaring sun greeted my vision, blurring it temporarily. I looked around, and was surprised to see i was laying in the grass in the same spot as right before i had died. I glanced at my shoulder and saw, to my confusion, Alise.

My brows furrowed. "Why would she be here...? Surely she didn't die as well..."

I gasped and sprang to my feet and looked around frantically. Damian's body, my sword still sticking out of the chest and stained red, lay in the grass nearby. Bella's inert form lay close too, and Nat sat next to her, staring at me in both confusion and horror. My exact emotions were reflected on his face.

I glanced down at Alise slowly...

and saw her staring back at me. It was then that i noticed the small cut on her wrist.